Orr confident of win
in final home match

CASTLEFORD Tigers captain Danny Orr admits it will be an emotional occasion when he and several team-mates play their last home game at the Probiz Coliseum on Sunday.

Orr has only two matches to go before he retires from playing and takes up a new coaching role with the Tigers and is determined to bow out on a high along with Ryan Hudson and Nick Youngquest, who are also retiring and a number of others who are leaving at the end of the season.

Sunday’s game against the Catalan Dragons will be their last home game and Orr has sensed an extra determination from the players to produce a big performance.

He told the Express: “I’m obviously aware it’s my last home game and it will be quite emotional at the end, but I’ve not really thought about it in that way. I just want to go out and do the best I can for my team-mates and for the club.

“It’s not just myself whose last game it is so I don’t want it to be just about me. It’s more about the team and what we want to achieve.

“As a group of players we are pretty close and I want to do my best for my team-mates because some of the lads who are bowing out or moving on have served this club really well. I’d like nothing more than to go out and perform really well for them.

“We’re going into the game with a lot of passion, training’s going well and we want to play well.

“It’s the last time we’re going to get to play in front of our crowd this year. The supporters have stuck by us and we’ve not really given them much to shout about this year so it would be nice to finish the season off with two wins and as this is the last home game we want to come away with a victory.

“We want to avoid finishing bottom, but I’ve not even thought about it. I think we’re more determined and concentrating on performing well. If we do that I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

Orr expects a tough test from a Catalan team pushing for a top four finish in Super League.

He said: “They’re a great team, they have proved that all year, and are right up there in the table. Whenever you play them you know you are in for a tough one. We’re expecting a hard game, but I’m really confident. I know what my team-mates are capable of and if we perform the way we can hopefully to the best of our ability then I’m sure we can beat them.

“But they are big and physical and have some good players who play off the back of that so we are going to have to be at our best to contain their big lads and get amongst them. Once we do that we’ve got some pretty good players in our team as well.

“Scott Dureau is a good player and he’s had a good year and is causing every team problems. He plays on the back of a fantastic go forward from his forwards so if we can slow them down and get on top of them it takes a bit of Scott’s game away from him. Hopefully we can look after his game and come out on top.”

Orr, who will be bringing the curtain down on a 16-year Super League career, is happy to play a part no matter what position head coach Ian Millward has in mind for him against the visiting Dragons.

He said: “I don’t know yet if I’ll be playing at half-back or in a hooker role, but I’m happy to play anywhere, whether it’s six, seven, nine or prop. I’ve played half-back pretty much all my career but to be honest I’ve really enjoyed playing hooker this year. I enjoy getting stuck in and tackling.

“My last year’s been a bit mixed, but sometimes we’ve been really good. We’ve got a good set of lads who work hard for one another, but results and performances haven’t been consistent enough and we haven’t produced enough to warrant a better place in the table which is what we wanted at the start of the year.

“On a personal level I’ve had some nice comments since I announced my retirement and I’d like to thank everyone for their best wishes. Playing for my hometown club has been a big part of my life so while I’m a bit sad to be finishing playing I’m pleased I am staying on here in a coaching role next year. It’s a good opportunity for me.”

Hull FC have set a deadline of the end of this week to secure a deal for Tigers star Rangi Chase.

The big spending Super League club came close to signing the 26-year-old Man of Steel before the transfer deadline last month, but visa issues put paid to the switch.

“We agreed if we couldn’t sort anything by the end of the month then we’d let it go,” said Hull FC director of rugby Shaun McRae.

“A lot has been going on behind the scenes. It’s a complicated issue. It’s something that has been simmering for quite a long time but it will come to a head very soon.”

Centre Josh Griffin is expected to be released early from his Castleford contract after the Tigers confirmed they have been approached by rugby union side Leeds Tykes to sign him.